Meet Our Regulars: Paw Gay
Why do you come to the library?
Paw: You guys are just super helpful. You have helped me write my works cited and helped me with research. Those were hard for me when I first got here. You guys are super friendly. All you have to do is ask for help and someone is always willing to work with you.
How often do you come to the library?
Paw: I come every day. It is very quiet and I can focus on my work.
What do you like about the library?
Paw: I love the books. Everything in here looks so professional. Everything is neat and organized. When I first came here, I didn’t have a computer, and you even let me borrow a computer. You have let me borrow pencils, pencil sharpeners – even glue when I needed it.
What are you studying at Piedmont, and what are your future goals?
Paw: I want to be a math professor. I like doing things with numbers. When I first moved here, I couldn’t speak any English so I learned to speak with numbers. Math is a great memory from when I came here because it allowed me a way to communicate. When I see numbers, I see characters that tell a story. It’s like x is a mystery and the y is the answer. I think it’s really cute!
What advice do you have for other students?
Paw: If you have a problem, go see a counselor and they will help you. Go to your teachers. If you open up to them, they will help you. If you don’t speak fluent English, go to the writing center. They will help with verb tense and sentence structure. The math center is also really helpful. All the tutors are very nice. They will talk with you about specific questions you have for them.
Do you have specific advice for international students?
Paw: It’s okay to be different. It’s hard when you come to a new world. When I first came, I wanted to quit but take it slow, and you will be fine as long as you take one step at a time.
Is there anything else you would like us to know about you?
Paw: My people are suffering, both in Burma and Thailand. In Thailand my family were refugees and were treated like the dirt on the ground. In the U.S. it is different. You can work and find work. You can do things like eat, pay bills, and go to school for free. My people didn’t have those kinds of opportunities, especially the Karen people.
Just for fun:
- Favorite Book – The Amulet books
- Coke or Pepsi – Coke
- Beach or Mountains – Mountains
- Favorite Movie – Frozen II
- City or Country – Country
- Car or Truck – Car
- Favorite Band – Big Bang
- Sweats or Khakis – Sweatshirt
- Coffee or Tea – Tea
- Basketball or Football – Soccer
- Wake up Early or Stay up Late – Early
- Food you hate most - American Food
- Chocolate or Vanilla – Vanilla